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AW.HfVAUGHMI. GOLLAPSIBLB FURNITURE. No..558,8615. Patented Apr. Z1, 1896.

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W. H. VAUGHAN.

GOLLAPSIBLB FURNITURE. No. 558,855. 'Patented Apr. 21, 1895.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-'Sheet 4 W. H. VAUGHAN. GOLLAPSIBLE FURNITURE.

No. 558,855. Patented Apr. 21, 1896.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

. W. H. VAU-GHAN.

4 GOLLAPSIBLE FURNITURE.

Patented Apr. 21, 1896.

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-XVILLIAM HENRY VAUGHAN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

COLLAPSIBLE FURNITURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,865, dated April 21, 1896. Application filed February 4, 1895. Serial No. 537,275. (No model.)

'To @ZZ whom. t may concern.'

Be it known that I, VILLIAM HENRY VAUGHAN, cabinet-maker, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Nos. 332 and 334. Old Street, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible or Folding Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to improvements in collapsible or folding furniture, and has for its object to enable various articles of furniture to be readily folded into a small compass for transport and asreadily expanded into shape for use.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided bythe accompanying drawings, fully to describe the same.

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a chest of drawers constructed ac cording to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section thereof with the lookingglass removed and the bracket or back and connected parts folded down. Fig. e is a front elevation thereof, but with the drawers removed and the bracket or back and connected parts folded down. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation thereof as arranged in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section of Fig. 5, but showing the plinth and bottom board partly withdrawn. Fig. 7 is a detailed view of parts. Fig; 8 is a similar view to Fig. 4f, but showing the shelves slid up and one of the sides in its folded position. Fig. 9 is a plan of a drawer with the bottom removed, showing Fig. 10 is a sectional end view, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the end of the drawer, showing the class of hinge employed in connection therewith; and Fig. 11 is a face view thereof. Fig. 12 is an elevation of parts drawn to an enlarged scale, showing a method of detachably mounting the glass upon the back or bracket. Fig. 13 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 12, and Fig. 14 is a face view of the part carried by the glass. Fig. 15 is a front elevation of a wash-hand stand constructed according to the present invention. Fig. 16 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 17 is aplan thereof. Fig. 18 is avertical transverse section showing the back or bracket and connected parts folded down onto the top; and Fig. 19 is a similar view to Fig. 15, but showing the device compressed for transport.

In the several iigures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.

Referring to Figs. 1 to le, a represents the sides of the chest of drawers, and b represents the back thereof, which is formed of woven fabric or other suitable material, and c represents two shelves, upon which two of the drawers d slide.

The shelves c are at their ends furnished with studs c, formed with heads c2, (shown more particularly at Fig. 7,) which enter and are held in vertical grooves, each of which is formed by a metal fitting a2, countersunk in the inner face of the side a and furnished with returned edges a3, which engage the head c2 of the stud, and lwhich arrangement constitutes an undercut groove a, while the upper part of the fitting a2 is formed without the returned edges to allow of the ready insertion and removal of the head c2 of the studs c.

Each shelf c is fitted at each end with two studs c', arranged near to its front and back edges, and each side a is provided with corresponding grooves a4 and fittings a2. A separate set of grooves a4 of different lengths is employed in connection with each shelf c, and the grooves of each shelf at their lower ends terminate at the elevation at which the shelves are required to be supported when in use, and the ends of the grooves a4 form supports upon which the heads c2 of the studs rest, by which arrangement of parts, when the drawers d are removed, the shelves c may be slid up to the top a', as hereinafter more fully described, into the position indicated at Fig. 8.

The bottom or bottom shelf c* is arranged to slide into position in horizontal grooves a5, formed in the inner faces of the sides a, and it is provided with headed studs ci, which engage the hooked lower ends of the tie-bars a, which at their upper ends are pin-jointed to the sides @,by which means it is fixed against accidental movement, and when the chest of drawers is expanded the sides are stiffened and at the same time tied with the bottom 0*, whereby the sides a are firmly maintained in position, as shown more particularly at Fig.

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5, or any other suitable catches or fastening means might be employed in lieu of the tiebars d to fix the bottom c* in position.

The front edge of the bottom shelf c* has fixed therewith a plinth or bracket-pieces om, furnished with holes or recesses cfs, which engage corresponding pegs or dowels a7 on the front edges of the sides a and thus materially assist to tie the sides together. p

The sides a of the chest of drawers are horizontally divided and hinged at dii, but at different elevations, so that they, the sidesa, may be turned up under the shelves c, as represented at Fig. 8, when the latter are slid up, as hereinbefore described.

The sides or ends d of each drawer d are vertically divided at their centers and hinged at (Z'i'k, while at Z2 they are hinged to the front and back, so that the ends d may be folded fiat between the front and back of the drawer d, as will be seen more particularly upon reference to Fig. 9, where the drawer is shown partially compressed.

It is necessary that at the central divisions of the sides d the hinges C 'ik employed should be of such a character that when the drawer d is expanded the hinges d'* will lie perfectly flush therewith, while at the same time they will admit of the two parts d' fold ing fiat when the drawer is compressed, and for this purpose a hinge, such as that represented at Figs. 10 and 11, is preferably employed.

The sides or ends of the drawer near to the bottom are formed with horizontal grooves (Z3, extending from the rear to the inner face of the front thereof, while a corresponding groove di* is formed in such inner face, and the bottom d4 of the drawer d is slid into poe sition in these grooves until it abuts against the front of the drawer, and it is then locked in position by means of a hook d5 or other suitable fastening carried by the back of the drawer engaging a headed stud or like device upon the bottom di, this arrangement materially assisting to maintain the rigidity of the drawer d.

ln order to conceal the joint between the front of the drawer d and the sides or ends d when the drawer is expanded, the front of the drawer d is at its ends formed to overlap the sides or ends (if, as shown more particularly at Fig. 9.

The looking-glass e, mounted upon the upper part of the chest of drawers, is adapted to be taken off, while the bracket or back as supporting the same is by long hinges d concealed by the brackets d10). fastened to the top a of the chest of drawers so as to fold down thereonand the tops am* of the small brackets uw, serving to hold the back or bracket as in its vertical position, are hinged to turn up against the back or frame as, as indicated by the dotted' lines in Figs. 1 and 2, and the web or supporting part thereof is vertically hinged to fold flat upon the back a8, as indicated by the dotted lines at Figs, 1

and 2, so that the entire device will fold into a small compass upon the top c1 of the chest of drawers, as shown at Figs. 3, et, 5, 6, and S.

ln order to facilitate the removal and placing in position of the glass e, any well-known form of mounting may be adopted, and that represented at Figs. 12, 13, and 14 is a convenient device to be employed for that purpose. This device consists of awedge-shaped and pivotally-mounted socket dsi, carried by the back or bracket a8, and a corresponding wedge-shaped projection e', carried by the glass e, a turn button or stop e2, carried by the glass e, being employed to come against the under side of the socket as* and prevent the accidental separation of the parts. Then it is desired to collapse the chest of drawers for transport, the drawers d are first removed, the bottoms d4 thereof are slid out of the grooves, when the drawers may be compressed in the manner represented -at Fig. 9; the glass e is then removed, the parts am d10* are folded onto the back d8, the latter is folded down onto the top a', the plinth ci142 and bottom board c* are then removed, the shelves c are slid up to the under side of the top cd, and the sides a are then folded under the shelves c, as indicated at Fig. S, wherein one of the sides a has been so folded. The fiexible back h may then be lapped around the folded parts and such parts, together with the loose parts-namely, the looking-glass, the drawers,and the plinth-may be conveniently packed into a case of comparatively small. compass.

In the example given at Figs. 15 to 10, which represents the application of the invention to a wash-hand stand, the parts are similar to those hereinbefore described with respect to the chest of drawers-that is to say, the back b is composed of woven fabric; but in this example the front is closed by curtains dii, mounted with capability of sliding upon a rod dim, extending across the front of the device, and by which means the crockeryware or other contents beneath the top d are inclosed. y

The shelf c (or there might be more shelves than one) is furnished with headed studs c,the heads c2 of which slide in vertical grooves d4, formed by metal fittings a2 in a similar manner to that described with respect to the previous figures, and the bottom c:k is similarly mounted in horizontal grooves d5, formed in the sides a; but in lieu of the plinth cfg, extending right across the front of the article in this case, bracket-pieces of2 are substituted therefor; but the holes or recesses c:P3 in the inner faces of the bracket-pieces 0*?, and the corresponding pegs or dowels a7 on thev front edges of the sides d, are identical with those hereinbefore described with respect to the previous figures, and the sides d are thus in a like manner held securely together. The back as, shelf am, and bracket d10 are constructed to fold in a similar manner, and the IOO IIO

bracket d10 is provided with a peg to engage a corresponding recess in the shelf am* When the parts are in their expanded position, While the hinge a9, connecting the back 0.8 with the top a', is placed in such a position that it is concealed by the bracket d10.

The towel-rail all is mounted upon arms auf, which are hinged to one of the sides a in such manner that the device Will fold up against the same, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. l5, When the Wash-hand stand is collapsed for transport.

The Washhand stand is collapsed for transport in a similar manner to that described with respect to the previous figures, (when it will assume the form indicated at Fig. 19,) so that it is unnecessary to again enter into detailed description of the method of folding.

By constructing articles of furniture in the manner hereinbefore described a suite may be made up so as to have the ordinary appearance and rigidity and be of elaborate finish, While affording the great convenience that it can be collapsed into a small compass, so that a number of pieces of furniture may for transport be packed in an ottoman-couch or into a packingcase.'

Although the invention is described in connection With only two pieces of furniture, it will be evident that various other articles of furniture maybe constructed upon a similar principle.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that What I claim isl. In an article of furniture, the combination of a top, sides iixed with the top but horizontally hinged at different elevations, vertical grooves formed in the inner faces of the sides, one or more shelves at the ends provided with studs engaging the vertical grooves of the sides, and means located near the bottom of the article for holding the sides in position, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose stated.

2. In combination With an article of furniture formed With folding sides, vertical undercut grooves formed in the inner faces of the sides, one or more shelves, and headed studs upon the ends of the shelves to engage the grooves of the sides, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose stated. i

3. In an article of furniture, the combination of a top, sides fixed with the top, but horizontally hinged at different elevations, vertical grooves formed in the inner faces of the sides, one or more shelves at the ends provided With studs engaging the vertical grooves of the sides, horizontal grooves in the inner faces of the sides located near the bottom, a bottom board or shelf adapted to slide into such grooves, a plinth or bracket-pieces upon the front of the bottom board or shelf, holes or recesses in the inner face of the plinth, corresponding holes, pegs or doivels on the front edges of the sides, and means for locking the bottom board or shelf in position, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose stated.

4. In an article of furniture, the combination of a top, sides fixed with the top, but horizontally hingedat dierent elevations, vertical grooves formed in the inner faces of lthe sides, one or more shelves at the ends provided With studs engaging the vertical grooves of the sides, means located near the bottom of the article for holding the sides in position, a back or bracket hinged to fold onto the top of the article, and a supportingbracket, the shelf and Web of Which are hinged to fold onto the back, substantially front, substantially as herein shown and de- 9 5 scribed, and for the purpose stated.

WILLIAM HENRY VAUGHAN. Witnesses z GEO. S. VAUGHAN, ALFRED GERALD FooKs. 

